In my opinion (based on perusing this forum for a few years now), once you get past late 2007 and the reported TF-80SC valve body premature wear, there's really nothing to watch out for as far as latent defects with the XC90. After 2011, just the 3.2 engine is offered in the Americas market so that's your only option. The 3.2 seems reasonably reliable over time as reflected in the SS posts so unless there's an issue with the car itself, no reason not to consider this model year. If price and mileage is okay for you, go for it.

 

I just paid that same price for a 2011 R Design with that motor with many more miles, check the book value and look it over carefully. My book was about 14k given my package/options I feel like that mileage on any 2011 makes 12k an insane deal. The $40 car fax is worth it, or if it's a dealer just ask for it.

The 3.2 is great. Moves along better than the 2.5T. Everyone is claiming the V8 gets at least the same MPG as the 3.2 but if you love Volvos for being Volvos, just stick with a Volvo motor.
Nice to hear your S40 made it that far, my friend had a 2005 he got rid of after less than a year. Too much Ford stuff on it.

 

Check the coolant reservoir on anything you're looking at. Ever since noticing what looks like oil in the coolant in this thread, I've noticed it several other times while looking at ads for the 3.2. I don't remember seeing any complaints about it here (though I'm still a relatively new member) so I'm not inclined to say it's a common problem yet, but it's stuck in my craw now.

 

Thanks for the pointers. I just found a 2011 with 32k verified miles on it. Taking it to a garage for a pre-purchase inspection today. They are asking $18k, but I am thinking around 16k.

 

I have 2 v8s (7-row) they are SMOOTH! and fun to drive! Loads of power and they sound great. I personally heard horror stories about the 3.2 (mybe the early ones?) The valve body issue was addressed in the after 2007. So an 07+ v8 xc90. 2010 executive package has front cooled seats and rear heated...

 

I'm hooked on the V8, but I've never driven a 3.2. They seem pretty good, but a bit of a headache when something goes wrong. What you're describing sounds pretty good. As mentioned, ask for or pay for a CarFax report. Many don't like them, but they can provide some good maintenance or trouble history.

I recently considered trading my '11 Suzuki Kizashi for an '08 Saab 97x V8 with 85k on it, but CarFax shows 5 owners already. Might not mean anything, or it might mean there's something not right with it. That alone changed my mind.

 

I'm hooked on the V8, but I've never driven a 3.2. They seem pretty good, but a bit of a headache when something goes wrong. What you're describing sounds pretty good. As mentioned, ask for or pay for a CarFax report. Many don't like them, but they can provide some good maintenance or trouble history.

I recently considered trading my '11 Suzuki Kizashi for an '08 Saab 97x V8 with 85k on it, but CarFax shows 5 owners already. Might not mean anything, or it might mean there's something not right with it. That alone changed my mind.

The LS in that Saab probably has a lot of life left in it even if it was stomped on. It is a Trail Blazer SS. A lot of people bought them because of the LS motor.

 

No doubt, but it would have me wondering what issues it could have. Honestly, I'm not real crazy about any GM product from that era, after winning a lemon law case on my new '06 HHR. My buddy I bought the XC90 from has an '07 97x V8 with right around 100k on it. It has a misfire, which he's narrowed down to a head problem. He said that year had issues. It's not in the greatest shape, but not terrible, either. He said he could sell it to me for $1,200 as it sits. He's planning to put another head on it if he gets around to it.

 

I don't believe the 07 valve body issue was 3.2 related, just trans related. My understanding was only the V8 even bothered the trans. V8 and 3.2 has same trans.
It's the T6 and 2.5T that are different. 2.5T is Vo, T6 is GM.

 

The valve body issue can effect anything with the TF-80SC AISIN transmission, meaning all V8 and 3.2 models. It may be less noticeable with the 3.2, but still can have issues. The transmissions are identical, with the only difference being the built-in bell housing. That keeps them from being interchangeable.

The 2.5T used a different AISIN transmission. The T6 used a GM transmission.

 

My 2010 V70 with the 3.2, FWD was a bit of an oil drinker. I bought it with 107k, put about 60k miles on it, and traded it in on my 2013 XC90 a couple of months ago. Same drivetrain for both. On the V70, I checked the oil every couple of weeks and would top it up here and there. My local Volvo dealership says the oil change interval for my 2013 is 10k miles since it uses full synthetic. I am about half way between oil changes and the oil level is down about a quarter on the stick (in the range indicated on the dip stick). The service advisor says that Volvo made changes to the 3.2 every year that it was in service. The 3.2 in my V70 did not use full synthetic and yet in my 2013 it does. Overall, no complaints with the engine. Gets the job done!

 

Built in bell housing? explain

 

The bell housing is integrated. It's not a separate piece. Unlike many other transmissions, you can't swap it out to make it work with a different engine.

 

Not to high jack your post, though I?m curious what you guys thought about jumping into a XC90 either a 06 or 08 v8 or 3.2.

Any tips would be great, common issues, tranny issues?

I?m currently looking at three right now

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/2008-volvo-xcdr-suv/6323506369.html

https://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/d/2006-volvo-xc90-awd-v8/6332427159.html

https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/d/2008-volvo-xc90/6323032474.html

 

Not to high jack your post, though I?m curious what you guys thought about jumping into a XC90 either a 06 or 08 v8 or 3.2.

Any tips would be great, common issues, tranny issues?

I?m currently looking at three right now

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/2008-volvo-xcdr-suv/6323506369.html
Pass on - Dealer no history

https://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/d/2006-volvo-xc90-awd-v8/6332427159.html
Worth a look. Looks maintained.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/d/2008-volvo-xc90/6323032474.html
Pass on - Its sloppy

The middle one. Not a dealer, has receipts for work done. Check the engine serial number, or make sure it is dirty as in not hosed down. Just look at the seats of the white one compered to the gray one.

When I was looking at 13 and 14s I checked out the cloth under the booster seat. The cloth on our 06 was disgusting. It was the first thing I showed to the family that bought our car. We bought it when our daughter was 5. They saw that, and the rest of the car and knew it wasn't abused. I had a non car person friend look at the 08 for me. I asked him to take a picture of the motor and the cloth under the booster. The cloth was hardly touched. I think I bought grandmas XC90 because it came with two DVDs from around 2010.

 

I bought a 2010 V8 after 10 days with a borrowed 2013 3.2 (also AWD) a couple months ago. The V8 is just wonderful.
However, V8s are rare and command a premium, whereas you get a lot of car for the money if you find a 2009 or later 3.2.

 

I've got a 2007 volvo xc90, 3.2L AWD, with about 155,000 miles on it. Overall I'm pretty happy with it, but here's some of the maintenance it's required (had it since 80,000 miles)

It burns a quart or two of oil between oil changes
New catalytic converter (old rusted out)- front- $1300 to fix from a local guy with aftermarket parts
New fuel pressure sensor- $200 parts & labor
Alternator center bolt spun off- fixed for free at home
Radio aux input jack- $30 part, fixed at home
Brake light switch and park interlock solenoid- $170 in parts, fixed at home (It wouldn't shift out of park. I probably should have gone after the brake light switch first)

To-Do list:
Intake manifold vacuum sensor- probably another $200 parts and labor, on to-do list
Backup sensor shot- $100 part
Rear control module has an error, which should be fixed with backup sensor- $400 mail-out repair

and of course that's not counting tires, one battery, alignments, brakes, etc. It's a heavy vehicle so it seems particularly hard on tires and steering parts.
Shocks seem okay for the moment.